Governor Gretchen Whitmer has filed a response brief in Enbridge’s lawsuit concerning the Line 5 dual pipelines, which are exposed on the lakebed in the Straits of Mackinac and transport oil through the Great Lakes. This legal action challenges Enbridge’s assertion that it can continue operating the pipeline despite the state’s revocation of its easement, emphasizing the unparalleled risk Line 5 poses to public safety and the Great Lakes' health.
The Great Lakes are vital to Michigan, supplying drinking water to over 40 million people and supporting a $9.3 trillion regional economy. Governor Whitmer highlighted the critical importance of these natural resources, saying, “The Great Lakes power Michigan’s economy, supply drinking water to millions, and define our way of life. Protecting these natural treasures is a top priority. My brief continues my seven-year fight to stop Enbridge from pumping oil through the Great Lakes. Michigan must have a say in what runs through our waters. We must get Line 5 out of the water and work together to protect our precious Great Lakes for generations to come.”
Enbridge’s environmental record includes a significant 2010 pipeline rupture that spilled one million gallons of oil into a Kalamazoo River tributary. In November 2020, Governor Whitmer and then-Director of the Department of Natural Resources, Dan Eichinger, revoked the 1953 easement that permitted Enbridge to transport petroleum through the Straits. Enbridge subsequently sued, arguing the state is perpetually bound by the original agreement and cannot enforce operational conditions.
Governor Whitmer's filing refutes this, asserting that the Mackinac Straits belong to the People of Michigan, not oil companies or the federal government. The state continues its efforts to protect the Great Lakes, including clean energy legislation, the MI Clean Water plan, and initiatives to safeguard drinking water and public lands.